Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meitalrea’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive single cup-shaped blossoms displaying at opening an irregular blend of yellow and luminous red which evolves to a greater concentration of red at maturity. The vegetation is strong. A bushy growth habit is displayed. The foliage is dense dark green with a glossy upper surface. The tolerance to disease is good, with a light sensitivity to black spot having been observed during observations to date. The plant is well suited for providing distinctive attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meitalrea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created inFrance by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasan unnamed and unreleased seedling (non-patented). The male parent(i.e., pollen parent) additionally was an unnamed and unreleasedseedling (non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:Unnamed Seedling×Unnamed Seedling.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) forms strong vegetation,    -   (b) exhibits a bushy growth habit with dense dark green foliage        having a glossy upper surface,    -   (c) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        single cup-shaped blossoms displaying at opening an irregular        blend of yellow and luminous red which evolves to a greater        concentration of red with maturity, and    -   (d) is well suited for providing distinctive attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The tolerance to disease is good with a light sensitivity to black spot(i.e., Diplocarpon rosae), sometimes known as Marsonia, having beenobserved during observations to date.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the female parent displays adusted ochre blossom coloration, and the male parent displays an ochrestreaked with yellow blossom coloration.

The new variety also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Meisiastri’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,719) and the ‘Radfifth’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 22,316). More specifically, the ‘Meisiastri’ varietyforms dissimilar blossoms that are coral in coloration with substantialcream-to-yellow striping, and the ‘Radfifth’ variety displays adissimilar upright and climbing growth habit.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as colorful ornamentation in parks andgardens.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, by a number of routes, includingbudding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Such asexual propagation bythe above-mentioned techniques has shown that the characteristics of thenew variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexualpropagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new varietyundergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meitalrea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants ofthe new variety were approximately two years of age and were observedduring July while budded on Rosa laxa rootstock and growing outdoors atLe Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the further opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower as opening begins;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening—planview—obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening—planview—reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of an open flower at full maturity—planview—obverse;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of an open flower at full maturity—planview—reverse;

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a pair of leaves with 3 leaflets—planview—upper surface (upper left), and—under surface (lower right); and

FIG. 17 illustrates a specimens of a pair of leaves with 5 leaflets—planview—upper surface (upper left), and—under surface (lower right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995) except where ordinarycolor terms are utilized. Common color terms are to be accorded theircustomary dictionary significance. The description is based upon theobservation of plants of the new variety at an age of approximately twoyears during the month of May while being grown outdoors while budded onRosa laxa rootstock at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Bushy.        -   Height.—Commonly approximately 60 cm on average.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 50 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B.            Adult wood: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148A.        -   Small thorns.—Size: commonly approximately 6 mm in length on            average with an obovate and narrow base on young stems.            Quantity: commonly approximately 3 on average over a length            of 10 cm on young stems, and commonly absent on adult stems.            Color: commonly near Greyed-Red Group 195A more or less            suffused with Greyed-Orange Group 17A on young stems.        -   Longer thorns.—Configuration: very elongated and curved            downwards on the upper surface and very concave on the under            surface. Size: commonly approximately 8 mm in length on            average with an obovate and narrow base on young stems, and            commonly 1 cm in length on average with an obovate and            narrow base on adult stems. Quantity: commonly approximately            6 on average over a length of 10 cm on young stems, and            commonly approximately 5 on average over a length of 10 cm            on adult stems. Color: commonly near Greyed-Green Group 195A            more or less suffused with near Greyed-Orange Group 174A on            young stems, and near Greyed-Purple Group 183C on adult            stems.-   Leaves:    -   -   Overall appearance.—Dense dark green.        -   Leaflets.—Shape: generally oval. Number: 3, and most often            5.        -   Size.—Terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 5.3 cm in            length on average and approximately 3.4 cm in width on            average. Apex: somewhat cuspidate. Base: rounded. Serration:            slightly denticulate, small and single. Texture: firm and            leathery on the under surface, and glossy on the upper            surface. Color (young foliage): near Green Group 137B on the            upper surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under            surface. Color (adult foliage): near Green Group 139A on the            upper surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 147B on the under            surface.        -   Petiole.—Texture: non-glandular on the upper surface and            commonly with many prickles on the under surface. Color:            near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper surface, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—Color: near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under            surface. Texture: non-glandular on the upper surface and            commonly with numerous prickles on the under surface.        -   Stipules.—General appearance: adnate, pectinate, and rather            broad. Size: commonly approximately 2.1 cm in length on            average, and approximately 5 mm in width on average.            Texture: generally smooth on the upper and under surfaces.            Color: near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper surface,            and near Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 2 to 7 blossoms            per stem.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally conical and small in size. Length:            approximately 1.7 cm on average. Width: approximately 1.2 cm            at the widest point on average. Texture: smooth on outer            surface of petals. Color: as the calyx breaks: on the upper            surface near Yellow Group 12A more or less streaked with            near Orange-Red Group 33A and Red Group 45A and with a spot            of near Yellow Group 12A at the base, and on the under            surface near Yellow Group 12A more or less streaked with Red            Group 44C and with a spot of Yellow Group 12A at the base.        -   Flower.—Diameter: approximately 6 to 7 cm on average when            fully open. Shape: cup-shaped. Color (in course of opening):            upper side: near Yellow Group 12A more or less suffused with            Yellow-Orange Group 14A and more or less streaked with            Orange-Red Group 33A and with a spot of near Yellow Group            12A at the base. under side: near Yellow Group 12A streaked            with Red Group 45D and with a spot of near Yellow Group 12A            at the base. Color (when open): upper side: near Yellow            Group 12A very amply suffused with near Red Group 44A and            more or less streaked with Red Group 45A and with a spot of            near Yellow Group 12A at the base. under side: near Yellow            Group 12A and amply suffused and streaked with near Red            Group 45A and with a spot of near Yellow Group 12A at the            base. Fragrance: none. Petal number: commonly approximately            9 or 10 on average under normal growing conditions. Petal            shape: commonly display a rounded tip generally with weak            incision and an obtuse base. Petal arrangement: imbricated            and commonly without petaloids. Petal texture: firm and            leathery on both surfaces. Petal length: commonly            approximately 3 cm on average. Petal width: commonly            approximately 3.1 cm on average. Petal drop: good with the            petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. Stamen            number: commonly approximately 116 on average. Anthers:            arranged regularly around the styles, commonly approximately            3 mm in size on average, and near Greyed-Orange Group 163B            in coloration. Filaments: commonly approximately 5 mm in            length on average, and near Yellow Group 9A in coloration.            Pistils: commonly approximately 92 on average. Styles:            commonly approximately 1 mm in size on average, and near            Greyed-Yellow Group 162A in coloration. Stigmas: commonly            approximately 5 mm in size and near Greyed-Red Group 180A in            coloration.        -   Receptacle.—Length: commonly approximately 9 mm on average.            Width: commonly approximately 9 mm on average at widest            point. Shape: pitcher-shaped. Texture: smooth. Color: near            Yellow-Green Group 144A. Fruit formation: the quantity of            fruit and seeds appears to be influenced by the climatic            conditions that are encountered. Hips: rounded in            configuration and commonly near Orange-Red Group 35B in            coloration.        -   Sepals.—Length: commonly approximately 2.5 cm on average.            Width: commonly approximately 9 mm on average at the widest            point. Shape: longish and narrow and commonly upright upon            initial opening. Texture: slightly tomentose on the upper            surface and smooth on the under surface. Color: commonly            near Yellow-Green Group 146D on the upper surface and near            Yellow-Green Group 144A more or less suffused with            Greyed-Purple Group 183B on the under surface.        -   Peduncle.—Length: commonly approximately 4.5 cm on average.            Width: commonly approximately 4 mm on average. Texture:            pubescent. Color: near Yellow-Green Group 144A.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Medium season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good, with a light sensitivity to            black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) having been observed during            observations to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) forms strong vegetation, (b) exhibitsa bushy growth habit with dense dark green foliage having a glossy uppersurface, (c) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractivesingle cup-shaped blossoms displaying at opening an irregular blend ofyellow and luminous red which evolves to a greater concentration of redwith maturity, and (d) is well suited for providing distinctiveattractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as shown anddescribed.